SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Spotting Scammers: Often Nigerian Scammers Will Use Other Identities As A Part Of Their Scams, Such As Attorneys Or People To Receive The Money Who Have Nigerian Names!
Knowing the typical Nigerian men’s first names can be helpful in spotting scammers, especially romance and impersonation scams and scammers.
Here are a few ways this helps in spotting scammers:
- It can help you to identify potential scams. If you are contacted by someone who ultimately wants money from you for whatever reason and has a common Nigerian man’s first name, it is more likely that they are a scammer. However, remember that scammers often use American or European common names because they are more likely to be trusted. But at some point during the scam, they may introduce new characters to reinforce the scam or receive the money that will have Nigerian names.
- It can help you to be more cautious. If you are aware that many romance and impersonation scams originate from Nigeria, you may be more cautious when communicating with people from that country. You may be less likely to give out personal information or send money to someone you do not know well.
- Abdullahi
- Abayomi
- Adebayo
- Adebola
- Adegoke
- Adejare
- Adekunle
- Adeola
- Afolabi
- Aminu
- Babatunde
- Bernard
- Chiedozie
- Chiemeka
- Chijioke
- Chika
- Chinedu
- Chuka
- Dapo
- Dauda
- Emmanuel
- Farouk
- Felix
- Folarin
- Gideon
- Godwin
- Idris
- Ibrahim
- Ifeanyi
- Ifeoluwa
- Iheanacho
- Jibril
- Joshua
- Joseph
- Kamoru
- Kunle
- Kwame
- Lanre
- Lekan
- Michael
- Mubarak
- Mustapha
- Niyi
- Nnamdi
- Nwachukwu
- Nwosu
- Obinna
- Ojo
- Oladipo
- Olumide
- Olumayowa
- Olusegun
- Oluseyi
- Olusola
- Oluwadamilare
- Oluwadare
- Oluwafemi
- Oluwakayode
- Oluwaseun
- Onyedika
- Onyekachi
- Oyewole
- Ojo
- Paul
- Rasaq
- Saheed
- Saheed
- Samuel
- Segun
- Shina
- Solomon
- Sylvester
- Suleiman
- Taiwo
- Temitope
- Tochukwu
- Tunde
- Umar
- Usman
- Wasiu
- Yakubu
- Yinka
- Adeyemi
- Chijioke
- Niyi
- Ayoade
- Joseph
- Kamoru
- Onyedika
- Kunle
- Ayoade
- Abubakar
- Chika
- Chiedozie
- Iheanacho
- Kwame
- Nnamdi
- Solomon
- Umar
- Yusuf
- Abdul
- Abdulahi
- Abdulazeez
- Abdulfatah
- Abdullahi
- Abiodun
- Abubakar
- Adebowale
- Adedamola
- Adegoke
- Ademola
- Adeola
- Adeshina
- Adewale
- Adeyinka
- Afolabi
- Akeem
- Akin
- Akindele
- Akintunde
- Aliyu
- Aminu
- Ayodele
- Babajide
- Babatunde
- Bamidele
- Basit
- Benard
- Chibuike
- Chidozie
- Chijindu
- Chijioke
- Chikezie
- Chinedu
- Chinonso
- Chukwudi
- Chukwuka
- Daniel
- David
- Ebuka
- Emeka
- Emmanuel
- Femi
- Gabriel
- Godwin
- Haruna
- Ibrahim
- Idris
- Ifeanyichukwu
- Ikenna
- Isiaka
- Ismail
- Jelili
- Johnson
- Kabiru
- Kareem
- Kehinde
- Kenechukwu
- Lukman
- Maikudi
- Mubarak
- Musa
- Niyi
- Nnamdi
- Nwachukwu
- Nwankwo
- Obinna
- Oghenekaro
- Ojo
- Olalekan
- Olaniyi
- Olawale
- Olumide
- Olusegun
- Oluwaseun
- Oluwaseyi
- Oluwatobi
- Oluwatosin
- Omololu
- Onyekachi
- Onyekachukwu
- Quadri
- Raphael
- Razaq
- Ridwan
- Saheed
- Samuel
- Segun
- Suleiman
- Taofeek
- Tobiloba
- Uchenna
- Usman
- Wasiu
- Yaqub
- Yakubu
- Yinka
- Yusuf
- Zachariah
- Adewale
- Abdul-Gani
- Abiodun
- Abiola
- Adebayo
- Adeboye
- Adekunle
- Ademola
- Adeniyi
- Adewunmi
- Adeyemi
- Adnan
- Ahmadu
- Akpan
- Amos
- Ayo
- Babatunji
- Badmus
- Bassey
- Bayo
- Bello
- Chibueze
- Chibuikem
- Chidozie
- Chigozie
- Chimere
- Chinasa
- Christian
- Christopher
- Damilola
- Daniel
- David
- Deji
- Ebere
- Ebiere
- Efe
- Ekene
- Emmanual
- Ernest
- Fabian
- Felix
- Friday
- Gabriel
- Gift
- Godspower
- Henry
- Ifeanyi
- Iheanacho
- Ikechukwu
- Innocent
- Israel
- Jide
- Joseph
- Joshua
- Jude
- Kehinde
- Kenneth
- Kingsley
- Linus
- Mfon
- Michael
- Moses
- Nduka
- Ndubisi
- Nnabuike
- Nnanna
- Nnaemeka
- Nnadozie
- Nneka
- Nnenna
- Nnoli
- Nosa
- Obumneke
- Odinaka
- Okey
- Olisa
- Onome
- Onyebuchi
- Onyekachi
- Osita
- Osman
- Ovie
- Oyinlola
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Precious
- Raphael
- Richard
- Robert
- Saibu
- Salisu
- Sani
- Sule
- Sunday
- Terhemen
- Tochukwu
- Ugochukwu
- Umar
- Victor
Additional Tips for Spotting Scammers from Nigeria
Here are some additional tips for spotting romance and impersonation scams:
- Be wary of unsolicited contact. Scammers often reach out to potential victims via online dating sites, social media, or email. If you receive a message from someone you do not know, be careful about clicking on any links or opening any attachments.
- Beware of high-pressure tactics. Scammers often try to pressure their victims into making a decision quickly, without giving them time to think it through. If someone is trying to rush you into sending them money or giving them personal information, run away!
- Beware of promises that seem too good to be true. Scammers often make promises of love, wealth, or success. If someone is promising you something that seems too good to be true, it probably is.
- Do your research. Before you agree to anything, take the time to research the person you are communicating with.You can also try to reverse image search their profile photos to see if they are being used elsewhere online.
- Trust your instincts, not your emotions. If something feels wrong, it probably is. If you have any doubts about a situation, don’t be afraid to walk away.
If you think you may have been a victim of a romance or impersonation scam, it is important to report it to the authorities – go to reporting.AgsinstScams.org to learn how.
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Table of Contents
Rapid Report Scammers
In the U.S. & Canada
U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988
LEAVE A COMMENT?
Recent Comments
On Other Articles
- SCARS Institute Editorial Team on Establishing The United States Task Force To Eliminate Fraud – 2026: “Make Online Safe Again!” Mar 17, 19:11
- on Establishing The United States Task Force To Eliminate Fraud – 2026: “Finally an administration takes the initiative to help solve the gigantic situation. Make America Safe Again, thank you!” Mar 17, 15:41
- on What Is The Difference Between A Scam Victim And A Scam Survivor? [Updated]: “Due to my scams I don’t fully trust anyone online and I shouldn’t even those people I knew in high…” Mar 7, 12:46
- on SCARS 3 Steps For New Scam Victims 2024: “I was very fearful “he” would come to my home because I was knew my address, I spoke to someone…” Mar 7, 09:50
- on Sadness & Scam Recovery: “Before my scam, my mom passed away and I got a divorce, so I was dealing with the loss of…” Mar 7, 09:37
- on The Story Of Kira Lee Orsag (aka Dani Daniels) [Updated]: “There is NO evidence and she is not, she is a victim too. Sebastian, stop letting your anger think for…” Mar 6, 23:18
- on The Story Of Kira Lee Orsag (aka Dani Daniels) [Updated]: “There is real evidence that behind these two people there is something that not many people know. This woman is…” Mar 4, 03:58
- on Signs of Good & Bad Scam Victim Emotional Health: “ty this helps me with knowing why I cant quit eating when I am not hungry and when I crave…” Mar 2, 20:43
- on The SCARS Institute Top 50 Celebrity Impersonation Scams – 2025: “You should probably add Lawrence O’donnell as a scam also. I clicked on a site on tic tok for msnbc,…” Mar 2, 08:41
- on Finally Tax Relief for American Scam Victims is on the Horizon – 2026: “I just did my taxes for 2025 my tax account said so far for romances scam we cd not take…” Feb 25, 19:50
ARTICLE META
Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
SCARS Institute articles examine different aspects of the scam victim experience, as well as those who may have been secondary victims. This work focuses on understanding victimization through the science of victimology, including common psychological and behavioral responses. The purpose is to help victims and survivors understand why these crimes occurred, reduce shame and self-blame, strengthen recovery programs and victim opportunities, and lower the risk of future victimization.
At times, these discussions may sound uncomfortable, overwhelming, or may be mistaken for blame. They are not. Scam victims are never blamed. Our goal is to explain the mechanisms of deception and the human responses that scammers exploit, and the processes that occur after the scam ends, so victims can better understand what happened to them and why it felt convincing at the time, and what the path looks like going forward.
Articles that address the psychology, neurology, physiology, and other characteristics of scams and the victim experience recognize that all people share cognitive and emotional traits that can be manipulated under the right conditions. These characteristics are not flaws. They are normal human functions that criminals deliberately exploit. Victims typically have little awareness of these mechanisms while a scam is unfolding and a very limited ability to control them. Awareness often comes only after the harm has occurred.
By explaining these processes, these articles help victims make sense of their experiences, understand common post-scam reactions, and identify ways to protect themselves moving forward. This knowledge supports recovery by replacing confusion and self-blame with clarity, context, and self-compassion.
Additional educational material on these topics is available at ScamPsychology.org – ScamsNOW.com and other SCARS Institute websites.
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
Thank you for your comment. You may receive an email to follow up. We never share your data with marketers.